Documentation

Certificates of Participation

This week, “Credentials”, also known as Certificates of Participation, will be sent to all pilgrims who have completed their registration for WYD. These documents prove a young person’s involvement in WYD and are needed to justify their entry into Spain. Depending on the pilgrim’s home country, these qualifications may reach them in two different ways:

If they live in one of the countries of the European Union, this letter will be sent to the street address of the group leader or the individually registered pilgrim.

If you live in a country outside the European Union, group leaders or individual pilgrims should contact their respective Bishops’ Conferences to obtain Credentials or the Certificate of Participation.

If the same group has members entering the European Union using different means of transport or on different days, it must:

Make a certified and authenticated photocopy of the Credentials in the Spanish consulate in their country of origin or in a government office of their country.

Attach a list of the pilgrims traveling on each flight to the Credentials.

Pilgrims must remember to keep this document at hand, as it is required to enter Spain. This does not imply that the Border Police will demand it from each person, but even so, there will be volunteers at Madrid’s Barajas Airport to help pilgrims.

This document is also required when picking up pilgrim passes, backpacks, and transportation passes. Moreover, if applicable in their registration, it will be used for certifying their lodging and picking up meal coupons.

This document does not replace the letter of invitation for processing a visa.

Visas

WYD cannot grant the visa. Only the government of Spain, through its Embassies and Consulates can issue visas.

You are reminded that registration and visa are two separate documents. Registration alone does not automatically entitle you to a visa.